Logger's death under investigation in Canterbury

CANTERBURY - The death Sunday of logger Mark Kelso, 53, of Danbury outside a Canterbury residence is being investigated by the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and investigators with the state police Major Crime Unit.Homeowner Peter T. Fife said Mark Kelso, 53, was doing some logging work on his property at 29 Borough Road when Kelso died.Kelso, who had logged Fife's property for the past two to three years, had his logging rigs set up in the "door yard" (driveway), Fife said.About 11 a.m. Sunday, Fife said he heard a "clunk or a bang" and went outside to find Kelso on the ground near his skidder. Fife said he immediately called 911.Fife said he can't say anything more about what happened to Kelso, who he knew for about 40 years, Fife said state police continue to investigate."My head's been kind of spinning because it's kind of a shock," said the 72-year-old Fife.He said investigators were at his property since Sunday and were there all day Wednesday, making it necessary for him to stay at his son's home.Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin, who heads the office's homicide division, confirmed his office is investigating a death in Canterbury but declined to say anything more about it.According to his obituary, published in the Concord Monitor, Kelso was born in Lake Charles, La. He was a 1978 graduate of Belmont High School and lived in Danbury most of his adult life.He was a self-employed logger who loved the outdoors. He was married to Paula Stillman Kelso for 29 years and had two children: a son, Raymond Mark Kelso, who is a logger like his father; and a daughter, Michelle Grace Kelso of Danbury; and two grandchildren.The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is handling arrangements. There are no services at this time, but a celebration of his life is planned for a later date.